Centrifugal force air pump wheel



' June 15, 1937. o. B. JOHNSON 2,083,847

CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AIR PUMP WHEEL Fil ed May 22, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet lJune 1937. o. B. JOHNSON CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AIR PUMP WHEEL Filed May 22,1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm 0.3. Jizwarz June 15, 1937. o. B. JOHNSONCENTRIFUGAL FORCE AIR PUMP WHEEL Filed May 22, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3\19. wk mm \m Rm,

June l5, 1937. o. B. JOHNSON CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AIR PUMP WHEEL I FiledMay 22, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 15, 1937.

o. B. JOHNSON 2,083,847

' CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AIR PUMP WHEEL Filed May 22, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5June l5, 1937. o. B. JOHNSON CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AIR PUMP WHEEL Filed May22, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 5 anism in operating the machine.

Patented June 1 5, 1937 carnal) STATES CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AIR PUMP WHEELOrlando 13'. Johnson, Boise, Idaho Application May 22,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to an air pump constructed in such a manner thatthe centrifugal motion of the balanced flywheels forming a part thereof,will actuate mechanism to compress and store air in a suitable tank atusable, practical compression. An important object of the invention isto provide a device of this character includingbalanced flywheelssupplied with movable weights arranged in such a way that the movementsof the weights or the inertia thereof will be exercised in favor of thedirection of rotation of the balanced flywheel, assisting in rotatingthe balanced flywheels by adding power thereto, and resultingin aneasier operation of the device,

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism so balancedand proportioned that it requires a minimum amount of force to actuatethe mechanism and cause it to produce a quantity of compressed air whichmay be utilized as a source of power. A still further object is toprovide means toharness forces present in the machine and which areordinarily inhibitory, in such a manner as to materially aid the motionof the mechanism and assist the power mech- With the foregoing and otherobjects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, theinvention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in thedetails of con struction hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the cylinders of themachine together with the pistons operating therein.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through a modified form of the machine.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 5.

1935, Serial No. 22,845

further modified form of the invention/the ma- I chine embodying avertical shaft. v

Figure 10 is a sectionalview taken on line Ifllll of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine embodies a frameindicated generally by the reference character 5,.the frame embodyingside members 6 that are formed with bearings l at their upper endsinwhich the hollow shaft 8 is mounted. This hollows shaft 8 supportsbalanced flywheels 9, which balanced flywheels are connected by means ofshafts H], which shafts provides supports for the cylinders ll, that aremounted on the elongatedbearing members I2, which bearing members are.in communication with the hollow shaft 8, through the pipes 13.

Pipes it which connect with the ends of the cylinders the bearingmembers I 2;

Slidably mounted with theccylinders H, are pistons Hi, which are free tomove longitudinally of the cylinders under the centrifugal forces causedby the rotation of the balanced flywheels 9. These cylinders II areprovided with removable heads l5, each of which is supplied with aninlet valve l6 and an outlet valve I], the outlet valve being arrangedto control the passage of air from the cylinders.

Mounted at one end of each bearing member I 2 is a sprocket I8 overwhich sprocket chains l9 operate, the chains l9 also operating over thesprockets 20, keyed to the hollowshaft 8 to the end that as the balancedflywheels rotate, the cylinders will be maintained in horizontalpositions at all times, and the centrifugal forces caused by therotation of thebalanced flywheels will tend to throw the pistons l4-totheir outer ends. Thus it will be seen that, when the balanced flywheelsare operating in a clockwise direction the pistons will move to theouter ends of the cylinders whereupon the weight of the pistons willtend to assist in rotating thebalanced fiywheels. As the cylinders passat lowermost points in the path of rotation of the balanced flywheels,it will be seen that the pistons are thrown to the opposite ends of thecylinders, forcing air from the cylinders and compressing the air in asuitable tank, which in the present showing is indicated by thereference character 2!. indicated at 22 establishes communicationbetween the hollow shaft 8 and tank 2!.

Mounted on one of the balanced flywheels 9, is a pulley 23 over whichthe belt 24 operates, the belt 24 also operating over the pulley 25mounted on the armature shaftof themotor 26,

H, are also in communication with.

The pipe Tin which motor constitutes the power device for rotating theflywheels and operating the machine. It might be further stated that thesprockets l8 and 20 are of equal diameters to the end that as thebalanced flywheels rotate, the cylinders will be maintained inhorizontal positions at .all time.

In the form of the invention as shown by sheets 3 and 4 of the drawings,the base includes a frame indicated generally by the reference character26, the frame having openings at its upper end, for the reception of thehollow shaft 21. Mounted on this shaft 21 are balanced flywheels 28spaced apart as clearly shown by Figure 6, the flywheels 28 beingconnected by means of the hollow shafts 29, spaced apart equidistantly,the shafts 29 having their ends closed to prevent the escape of air atthe ends of the shafts 29.

These shafts 29 are secured to thefly wheels 28 by means of the nuts 30,which hold the shafts 29 against rotary movement with respect to theflywheels 28. Each of the shafts 29 provides a support for a pair ofcylinders 3|, which cylinders are secured to the spaced bars-'32 thathave bearing openings to receive the shafts 29 in such a way that rotarymovement of the cylinders 3| on their shafts 29, will be permitted. 1

At each end'of each cylinder is an outlet opening controlled by means ofan outlet valve 33, the valves 33 being supported within the ends of themanifolds 34 also disposed at the ends of the cylinders 3|. Intakevalves 35 control the passage of air into the cylinders, at the ends ofthe cylinders, the air being drawn into the cylinders by means of thepistons 36 which are mounted for free sliding movement within thecylinders. Pipes 31 communicate with the manifolds 34, and have theirinner ends connected with the air chambers 38 formed by the housings 39which are spaced from the shafts 29 on which the housings are mounted.Openings 4!] establish communication between the air chambers 38 and theshafts 29, so that air forced from the cylinders, will enter thehousings and shafts 29 while the cylinders move with respect to theirshafts.

Collars 42 are mounted on the shafts 29 and are disposed in spacedrelation therewith providing air passageways which communicate with thehollow shafts 29 through openings so that air passing through the shafts29, may enter the pipes 43 which connect with the collars 42 andcommunicate with the air passageways thereof. The collar 44 is mountedon the main hollow shaft 21 and disposed in spaced relation therewithproviding an air passageway which is in communication with the interiorof the hollow shaft 21 through openings formed in the hollow shaft. Thusit will be seen that air passing through the passageways formed by thecollars 42 will enter pipes 43 and be directed to the interior of thehollow shaft 21. Leading from the hollow shaft 21, is a pipe 45 whichestablishes communication between one end of the hollow shaft 21 and thestorage tank 48.

It will of course be understood that rotary movement of the balanced flywheels 28 tends to cause the pistons 36 to be thrown to the outer endsthereof, due to centrifugal force, and to increase the efficiency of themachine, means has been provided to slightly tilt the cylinders, asshown by Figure of the drawings, at certain points, during the cycles ofrotation of the balanced fly wheels.

To accomplish this tilting of the cylinders, a plurality of sprockets 41are secured to the shaft 21, which sprockets transmit movement tosprockets 48 loosely mounted on the shafts 29, through the chains 49,there being provided a pair of sprockets and a chain for each pair ofcylinders at one side of each pair of cylinders, and the sprocket wheels41 are a small percentage smaller than the sprocket wheels 48, thesprocket wheels 48 having approximately 22 teeth while the sprocketwheels 41 are supplied with 24 teeth.

These sprocket wheels 48 are directly connected with ratchet wheels 50that have approximately 24 teeth, which teeth are engaged by the pawls5| that are carried by the bars 32, whereby the cylinders are connectedwith the ratchet wheels so that as the balanced fly wheels 28 rotate,slight rotary movement will be imparted to the cylinders 3|, moving thecylinders to positions as shown by Figure 5 of the drawings with theresult that the weight of the pistons within their cylinders on the upand down movements of the cylinders, will tend to direct a force in aclockwise direction .and in favor of the direction of rotation of thefly wheels, through the medium of the chains and sprockets. Y

Loosely mounted on the shaft 21 are sprocket wheels 52 which connectwith sprocket wheels 53 loosely mounted on the shafts 29 through themedium of the chains 54, the sprocket wheels 52 being slightly largerthan the sprocket wheels 53, the sprocket wheels 52 having approximately26 teeth, while the sprocket wheels 53 have 24 Directly connected withthe sprocketwheels 53 are ratchet wheels 55 which have their teethdisposed in a direction opposite to the teeth of the ratchet wheels 59,the ratchet wheels 55 being engaged by the pawls 56 that are mounted atthe opposite sides of the pistons and held into engagement with theteeth by means of spring members 51.

The main power is transmitted to the fly wheels through the medium of apower driven belt not shown, and which operates over the pulley 5B.

In this form of the invention the fly wheels 28 must be revolved in aclockwise direction with the result that the upper cylinder battery asshown by Figure 5, has a motion to the right, while the lower cylinderbattery as shown in this figure is in motion towards the left. Sincesprockets 41 are two teeth smaller than sprockets 48, it will be seenthat the ratchet wheels 59 secured thereto, will rotate one-twelfth of arevolution less than the fly wheels 28, in anticlockwise direction.Since sprockets 52 are of a greater diameter than the sprockets 53 andhave two more teeth than sprockets 53 attached to the reversed ratchetwheels 55, ratchet wheels 55 will travel one-twelfth faster than therevolutionary speed of fly wheels 28, also anti-clockwise.

By this mechanism the weight inertia in exercise upon weighted cylindersand pistons, operates in favor of the motion of the fly wheels 28. Itwill be seen that as fly wheels 28 revolve clockwise, the weightedpistons 36 slide in the upper cylinders towards the left hand ends oftheir cylinders, causing the left hand ends of the down moving cylinders28 to be heavier than the right hand ends. This motion causes pawl 5| toengage with ratchet wheel 55 applying power over the lower section ofthe uppermost chain 54 rotating the sprocket 53 in the direction ofrotation of the Wheels 28.

Since sprocket 53 connected with the ratchet wheel 55 is travelingone-twelfth slower the weighted ends of the cylinders 3| are caused tofall the distance of one tooth on the ratchet wheel 56 in a halfrevolution, and this movement is so timed that as the right hand batteryof cylinders H as shown by Figure 5, continues its downward portion ofthe clockwise motion of whee-ls 28, pawl 51 engages ratchet wheel 50 themoment before the weighted pistons 36 return to the right hand ends ofthe cylinders 3!. As the clockwise motion of wheels 28 continues towardsthe bottom of the machine, and the cylinders 3! which are in horizontalpositions start pistons 36 on the return to the right hand ends of thecylinders 3| as pistons 36 arrive past the center line of shaft 29, theweight inertia'is exerted in the opposite direction to that of the upperhalf of the cycle.

In consequence, newly engaged pawl now engages the ratchet wheel 50 andthe gravitational force exerts its pull over the sprocket 52 on the nowlower segment of chain 54 causing this force to be spent towardsfurthering the rotary motion of wheels 28 in a clockwise direction andthe reversal of the weight from one ratchet to the other will be somaintained that cylinders 3| are held in position over a horizontalline, while weight forces them against the ratchets, over a minorportion of the oscillatory arc.

It will be seen that the centrifugal force exerted upon pistons 36during each cycle, causes them to draw air into the cylinders, throughthe valves 35. As the pistons 36 start their return movements to theopposite ends of their cylinders, the valves 33 close and valves 24open, exhausting the air compressed in cylinders 3! into the manifolds34.

As shown by sheets 5 and 6 of the drawings I have illustrated a machinewherein the cylinders and pistons operate in horizontal planes. In thisform of the invention the numeral 58 indicates a hollow shaft having itsends closed, the lower end of the shaft being secured to the base 59 bymeans of the collar 66, which is locked to the base 58 by means of theset screw 6|.

Rotatably attached to the shaft 58 are bars 62 which are the equivalentof the wheels 28 and 9 of the machines heretofore described. These bars52 must have equally weighted ends over the center line, so that theyhave a balanced motion as they rotate around shaft 58. At the oppositeends of these bars 62 are shafts 63, which shafts are hollow anddisposed vertically or in parallel relation to the shaft 58, the shafts63 being mounted in suitable bearings so that they may rotate freely.

In bearings mounted on the shafts 63 are mounted sprocket wheels 64attached to the ratchet wheels 65 and 66 which are freely rotatable uponthe shafts 63. Extending through the shafts 63 and stufiing boxes 61 arehollow shafts 68, the ends thereof being closed and secured to thecylinders 69, as clearly shown by the drawings. Mounted near the ends ofthe hollow shafts 63 and projecting toward the rim of the ratchet wheelsare ratchet arms ID which are secured to the walls of the cylinders 69.These ratchet arms provide supports for the ratchet dogs H and 12.Secured to the central hollow shaft 58 to move therewith, are sprocketWheels 13 and 14 which are connected with the sprockets 64, through thechains that move thereover. Mounted-within the cylinders 69 are doubleacting pistons '16 which slide freely throughout .the lengths of thecylinders, and are constructed. of material rendering them exceptionallyheavy, the pistons being fitted with compression rings to seal thepistons within their cylinders. Thus it will vbe seen thatreciprocationofthepistons 56 causes air to be compressed against thecylinder heads 14, forcing the valves I8 to their open positions againstthe action of springs 18, causingair to pass through the tubularconnections 86 andyinto the hollow shafts 68 from where the 'air passesthrough the vertical shafts 63 by meansof stuffing boxes 61. Shafts 68havesuitable orifices communicating with the stuffing boxes 6?.

The air so compressed is forced into the hollow main shaft 58 from theshafts 63 by means of the stuffing boxes 8| and 82 connected by pipes83. The air is taken from the upper endof the main shaft-58, through thepipe 84, where it is directed to. a suitable receiving tank not shown.

It will also be seen in this form of the invention another set ofsprockets and chains is provided, the numeral 85 indicating wheelsrigidly attached to the center shaft 58. The numeral86- representssprockets of equal ratio which are securedto the shafts 63, at the lowerends thereof. These sprockets which are connected by means of the chains15, will causethe cylinder batteriesto maintain a predetermined positionthroughout the cycles of operation. f l

Rigidly attached to a cross bar 62 is a pulley indicated by thereference, character 61, which pulleyparries the load thrust of theentire rotatable unit, upon the base collar 66. Power is communicatedfrom the primary drive or power supply mechanism 88, through the drivebelt 89.

This mechanism must be rotated in a direction from the right towards theleft hand side of the machine, which movement will result in a properlytimed motion to receive the added power of the reciprocating weightinertia exerted thereon, i. e., as cross bar 62 is revolved from righthand to left hand by primary power at 88 the pistons 16 of cylinders 69at the right, move rearwardly driving the greater portion of the weightupon the trailing ends of the cylinders. This Weight is thrown. againstthe upper ratchet wheel 65 by the ratchet pawl H attached to ratchet armIll, causing the pull on chain 15, between sprockets 64 and 13 of whichthe ratio of sprockets l8 and 64 is one-twelfth greater on sprocketwheels I9. The relationship causes ratchet wheel 65 to have slightlygreater motion than the cross bar 62 per revolution, and allows theweighted trailing ends of the right hand cylinders to transmit theensuing weight inertia over rigid sprockets 13 in favor of the motiongiven to the cross bars 62. As the right hand battery of cylinders 69approaches the center line, and since they are maintained parallel totheir original positions, by means of the sprocket wheels and sprocketchains 85, 15 and 86, the position of the reverse ratchet 66 operatingthrough the sprocket 64 and controlling sprocket wheel 11, will be foundto have lost the distance of one notch upon ratchet wheel 66, so thatthe ratchet dog or pawl engaging the ratchet wheel 66 at this pointraises the forward end of the cylinder 69 to a slightly higherelevation, as the weighted piston 16 reciprocates to the reverse end ofthe cylinder 69.

The gravitation of pull is not transferred from the ratchet wheel 65 tothe ratchet wheel 66, and due to the one-twelfth less ratio betweensprocket wheel 10 and the corresponding" sprocket wheel 64 the graduallydescending weight in the cylinder 69 exerts a force over the oppositeside of the sprocket ll, adding the weight inertia to assist in therotation of the entire rotatable unit.

I claim:

- 1. A machine of the class described, comprising a base, a shaftmounted on the base, rotary membars mounted on' the shaft, stationarysprockets mounted on the shaft, cylinders mounted for rotary movement onthe rotary members, sprockets associated with the cylinders, chainsoperating over the stationary sprockets and last mentioned sprockets,whereby the cylinders are rotated and maintained in substantiallyhorizontal positions throughout the cycle of rotation of the fly wheels,pistons slidable throughout the lengths of the cylinders by centrifugalforce as the rotary members rotate, compressing air, and means forrotating the rotary members.

2. A machine of the class described, comprising a base, a main shaftmounted on the base, spaced balanced fly wheels mounted for rotarymovement on the shaft, shafts connecting the fly wheels at theperipheries thereof, cylinders pivotally mounted on the last mentionedshafts, means for rotating the fly wheels, means for rotating thecylinders with respect to the flywheels maintaining the cylinders insubstantially horizontal positions throughout the cycle of rotation ofthe fly wheels, pistons slidable in the cylinders and adapted to bethrown to the ends of the cylinders bycentrifugal force compressing air.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a base, a main shaft onthe base, rotary members mounted on the main shaft, cylinders mounted onthe rotary members and adapted to rotate with respect thereto, means fortransmitting movement of the rotary members to the cylinders whereby thecylinders are maintained in substantially horizontal positionsthroughout the cycle of rotation of the fly wheels, pistons free toslide within the cylinders, said pistons adapted to be thrown to theends of the cylinders by centrifugal force when the rotary membersrotate, compressing air, and. means for rotating the rotary members.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a base, a main shaftmounted on the base, rotary members mounted on the shaft, stationarysprockets on the main shaft, cylinders pivotally mounted on the 1 rotarymembers, sprockets mounted adjacent to the cylinders, chains operatingover the stationary sprockets and last mentioned sprockets, whereby thelast mentioned sprockets are rotated as the rotary members rotate,ratchet wheels operated by the sprockets, means for transmittingmovement of the ratchet wheels to the cylinders whereby the cylindersare normally maintained in horizontal positions throughout the cycle ofrotation of the fly wheels, pistons free to slide in the cylinders, andmeans for rotating the rotary members.

5. A machine of the class described, comprising a main shaft supportedon the base, balanced fly wheels mounted for rotary movement on theshaft, shafts mounted on the fly wheels, cylinders mounted for rotarymovement on the latter shafts, sprockets on the last mentioned shafts,sprockets on the main shaft, chains operating over the sprockets on themain shafts and last mentioned sprockets whereby rotary movement of thefly wheels produces a rotary movement of the sprockets, cylindersmounted on the last mentioned shafts, means for transmitting movement ofthe sprockets to the cylinders, whereby the cylinders are held insubstantially horizontal positions throughout the cycle of rotation ofthe fly wheels, pistons operating in the cylinders and adapted to bethrown to the ends of the cylinders compressing air, and means forrotating the fly wheels.

ORLANDO B. JOHNSON.

